Kayakers stranded by increased river levels

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Jun 5, 2012 at 7:44 am

SAUK RAPIDS, MN (KNSI) - The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says two people had to be rescued from an island on the Mississippi River Monday.

Authorities received a call from a bicyclist just after 2 pm reporting two people were calling out for help from the island. The sheriff's office launched a rescue boat, and a Minnesota DNR enforcement officer assisted. They were able to launch the boat from the bank of Lions Park in Sauk Rapids and rescue both people.

Authorities say 21 year-old Kenneth Larkey and 16 year-old Steven Larkey, both of Sauk Rapids, had been kayaking when one of the two had trouble controlling his path and eventually lost control of the kayak in the fast-moving waters of the river. The second kayaker followed the first to assist, and they both ended up stranded on the island.

Sheriff John Sanner says both the Sauk and Mississippi Rivers are currently running fast because of heavy rain in May, and he says you should stay off the water unless you have the proper equipment, training and experience for those types of conditions.